The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-26
FoR THE CLARIos.I
Summit Notes.

1. 1he first annual report OF the Com
missioner of Labor was recently sent me
by Hon. H. S. Van Eaton, member OF
Congress from the Sixth District. The
Bureau of Labor was established by act
of Congress, approved June q, 1884.
The Commissioner of Labor is appointed
by the President, and the Chief Clerk
by the Honorable Secretary of the lnte-
rior. January 81, 1885, Mr.. Carroll d.
Wright received his commission, and
February 8, Mr.. Oren w. Weaver was
appointed Chief Clerk. March II, the
outline of work was approved by Mr..
Secretary Lamar. About June /, 1885,
the agents reached their fields of work.
FIVE agents were sent to Great Britain,
France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland
and Italy. Fifteen agents visited vari-
GUS States in this Union. The result of
their labor is this first report.
2. This brief outline will sufficiently
indicate the origin of the Bureau of La
Dor. It's inquiry will be invaluable in
throwing light upon the causes of indus
trial depression in the United States and
in foreign lands. The estimate of the
number of persons unemployed, based
upon inquiries of those working in
mines, factories, ETC., and applied to all
other Industries, was for the year end
ing July /, 1885, 1000, 900 persons. The
loss to the consumptive power of the
country was estimated at $1,000, 600 per
day, or a crippling of the trade of the
country of over 100000, 900 per year.
The total earnings of the people thus
involved would represent 1890, ,716,600
per annum. This is the estimable loss.
So much for the unemployed and their
fruitage.
8. Among the industries and indivId-
ual laborers visited, it may be interest
ing to your readers to give a single table
showing the living, earnings and ex-
penses of single family.
NO. wEAvER-ANTwERP.
Condition-family of four; parents
and two small children. Occupy lodg-
ings in upper part of tenement house.
Two rooms. Front room has window
and closet; back room small, used for
kitchen and dining room. Father and
mother both weavers; children too small
to work. Earnings of father, STA, earn
ings of mother, $l05, total, $279. Cost
of living: Rent, $1S.66; bread, $54.75; !;
once week. 5000; groceries, $64.53;
beer and tobacco, $2l.90; clothing and
shoes, $41.00; fuel and lights, s12 90;
furniture, ETC., $7.20; ;incidentals, $17.00;
total expenses, $276.64. Difference be-
tween earnings and expenses, s.. SO.
4. The earnings of a blacksmith in
the District of Birmingham, England,
were 1864; the expenses, $379.65; def
cit, 1855. The earnings of a shoe
maker in the district of Leeds were
$330.72; expenses, S252.69. surplus,
$7S.03. OF all the tables examined, this
is the best. The majority of skilled
workmen do not lay up one cent. In
large number of cases the expenses are
in excess of the earnings. 1t should be
stated that they work ten hours day.
5. The conclusion reached from this
examination is that any farmer in Mis-
sissippi can live better, work less num-
Der of hours, and enjoy himself more
than skilled mechanics in the old world,
and have more money, if he will exer-
else economy and good management,
and this means to keep an account of
expenses. He can have on his table,
wholesome, nourishing diet. Any far
mer can have milk and butter, eggs and
fowls, dainty vegetables and luscious
fruit by the exercise of a little care and
effort. His life is far more independent
than that of men in other industries
There is efficacious strength in Samuel.
Drew's earnest words: Economy and
good management are excellent artists
for the mending of hard times"
6. There is dreary waste of time and
stupid waste of money by some people
who from some strange infatuation,
never complain of what they can con-
troll. Fifty-two Saturdays spent in dis
cussing ''blue times" and fifty-two other
days spent in discussing green politics"
may be profitable to the country, but
hardly profitable to the productive in
come of the orator, especially, when the
milk COW goes unfed and unhoused,
exposed to the cold rain, sleet and snow
of winter. According to the report of
the Commissioner of Labor, page 145,
the direct route to poverty licensed by
authority, in Prussia, is to be found in
zoe, 900 saloons and 40, 900 public houses.
Twenty-seven per cent. of the male lu
macy in Prussia is attributed to this
source.
SUMMIT CORRESPONDENT